Nipple grooving device

Abstract

In the on-site manufacture of nipples of relatively short length for joining pipe sections in a conduit system, spacer pins and spacers are selected to achieve a user-determined displacement between an end stop and cutting element of a pipe groover used for cutting external annular grooves along the pipe stock. The use of the spacer pins and spacers allows the grooving tool to be displaced at measured displacements from a selected end of the pipe stock while providing a visual gauge to the user of such displacement. In the fabrication of these nipples, the end stop/yoke is positioned abutting a selected end of the pipe stock thereby positioning the cutting element where a first groove is cut. Upon selection of a combination of spacer pins and/or spacers the end stop is again positioned to abut the selected end of the pipe stock thereby positioning the cutting element where a second groove is cut. Finally upon the selection of a subsequent combination of spacer pins and/or spacers the end stop is positioned to abut the selected end of the pipe stock thereby positioning the cutting element where a third groove is cut. This third groove defines the length of the nipple once separated from the pipe stock.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. For use with a pipe groover having an operable cutting member adapted for movement about pipe stock and means for moving said cutting member about said pipe stock for scoring first and second annular grooves about said pipe stock to form a pipe nipple on said stock having first and second annular seats thereon, the improvement comprising: a stop member for contacting one end of said pipe stock;   fastener means releasably connecting said stop member to said groover in a first longitudinally-spaced apart relationship therebetween, said contact of said stop member positioning said groover at a first longitudinal displacement along the extent of said pipe stock relative to said same one end of said pipe stock for scoring said first annular groove about said pipe stock upon operation of said moving means and said cutting member; and   a first extension means releasably engageable with said fastener means and said groover and including at least one spacer pin having first and second longitudinally spaced-apart ends, said spacer pin having first means at said first end releasably engaging said fastener means upon release of said fastener means connection from said groover and second means at said second end releasably engaging said groover, said engagement of said spacer pin with said fastener means and said groover displacing said stop member from said groover in a second longitudinally-spaced apart relationship greater than said first spaced relationship whereupon said stop member contact of said same one end of said pipe positions said groover and said cutting member at a second greater longitudinal displacement along the extent of said pipe stock relative to said same one end of said pipe stock for scoring said second annular groove about said pipe stock upon operation of said moving means and said cutting member whereby to form said pipe nipple on said pipe stock with said seats corresponding to said grooves.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said respective at least one pin member is of a user-selectable length corresponding to said respective selected longitudinal distance between said first and second annular grooves. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastener means comprises at least one bolt member functionally connecting said stop member to said groover to present said first longitudinal relationship therebetween. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pin member of said first extension means comprises: at least one elongated shaft having first and second ends;   an aperture at said first end of said shaft for engaging an end of said bolt presented upon release of said connection of said bolt with said groover, whereby to present said first releasable engagement means; and   said second releasable engagement means being at said second end of said shaft.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moving means comprises: means for rotating said stop member about an imaginary axis passing therethrough and through said pipe stock upon said stop member contact; and   said fastener means and first extension means transferring said rotation of said stop member to said groover for moving the latter through an annular path about said pipe stock to provide said scoring of said respective annular groove upon said operation of said cutting member.   
     
     
       6. A method of forming a pipe nipple from a piece of pipe stock comprising the steps of: (a) clamping said pipe stock;   (b) providing a scoring means;   (c) providing a stop member;   (d) connecting said stop member to said scoring means at a first longitudinal displacement therebetween;   (e) placing said stop member in contact with the end of said pipe opposite the clamped end to present a zone of contact of said scoring means with said pipe at a longitudinally displaced position corresponding to said first longitudinal displacement;   (f) operating said scoring means to present a first annular groove about said pipe;   (g) connecting said stop member to said scoring means at a second relatively greater longitudinal displacement therebetween;   (h) placing said stop member in contact with the end of said pipe in step (e) to present a zone of contact of said scoring means with said pipe corresponding to said second longitudinal displacement beyond said first annular groove;   (i) operating said scoring means to score a second annular groove about said pipe;   (j) measuring a selected distance beyond said second annular groove;   (k) separating said pipe stock at said distance of step   (j) to present a pipe nipple on said pipe stock having said first and second longitudinally spaced-apart annular grooves thereon.   
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of: (l) connecting said stop member to said scoring means at a third relatively greater longitudinal displacement therebetween;   (m) placing said stop member in contact with the end of said pipe in step (e) to present a zone of contact of said scoring means with said pipe corresponding to said third longitudinal displacement beyond said first and second annular grooves;   (n) operating said scoring means to score a third annular groove to define one end of said pipe nipple; and   (o) separating said pipe stock at said third annular groove to present said pipe nipple.   
     
     
       8. For use with a pipe groover having an operable cutting member and means for rotating said cutting member about a pipe having first and second ends for scoring an annular groove about said pipe, a system for forming a pipe-connecting nipple having first and second annular grooves thereon comprising: a stop member for contacting one end of said pipe;   fastener means releasably connecting said stop member to said groover in a longitudinally-spaced relationship therebetween, said contact of said stop member with said one end presenting a first longitudinal displacement of said cutting member from said one end of said pipe for scoring a first annular groove therearound upon operation of said rotating means; and   a first extension means positioned intermediate said fastener means and said groover in a releasable connection therebetween for extending said stop member from said groover at a second longitudinally-spaced displacement therebetween greater than said first displacement, said stop member contact with said one end presenting a second longitudinal displacement of said cutting member from said one end of said pipe and beyond said first annular groove for scoring a second annular groove therearound upon operation of said rotating means.   
     
     
       9. For use with a pipe groover having an operable cutting member and means for moving said cutting member about pipe stock having first and second ends for scoring annular grooves about said pipe stock to form a pipe-connecting nipple having first and second annular seats thereon corresponding to said grooves, the improvement comprising: a separable stop member for contacting one end of said pipe stock;   fastener means releasably connecting said stop member to said groover in a first longitudinally-spaced relationship therebetween, said contact of said stop member positioning said groover and said cutting member at a first longitudinal displacement along the extent of said pipe stock relative to said one end of said pipe stock for scoring a first annular groove therearound upon operation of said cutting member; and   extension means releasably interposed between said fastener means and said groover, said interposed extension means further displacing said stop member from said groover in a second longitudinally-spaced relationship therebetween greater than said first spaced relationship whereupon said stop member contact of said same one end of said pipe positions said groover and said cutting member at a second greater longitudinal displacement along the extent of said pipe stock as measured from said same one end of said pipe stock for scoring a second annular groove therearound upon operation of said moving means and said cutting member.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second releasable engagement means comprises a stud member extending from said second end of said shaft for functionally engaging an aperture in said groover presented upon said release of said bolt from said groover.